FortSask

The Alberta government has made some changes to its Graduated Driver's Licensing (GDL) program.

Starting Saturday (Apr. 1), eligible drivers in the GDL program will be able to save over $150 by not taking an advanced road test to get their full Class 5 or Class 6 driver's license.

“This is a good common-sense approach that cuts red tape. Albertans have told us this was red tape - we listened and are addressing it. This change will also help make driver’s licenses more affordable for Albertans,” said Dale Nally, minister of Service Alberta and Red Tape Reduction.

Kids and seniors alike teamed up to make some beautiful art in a collaborative project.

This project, hosted by local artist Amanda Milke, features pieces of abstract art that will be featured in the hallways of Muriel Ross Abdurahman Court, the first affordable housing complex in Fort Saskatchewan.

The province has released the details for its new 5-year $508 million Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership.

Minister of Agriculture and Irrigation Nate Horner says the new agricultural policy framework provides flexibility to deliver programs that will help producers and value-added processors grow their businesses and improve productivity.

Alberta’s SCAP programs align with the five priority areas in the agreement.

Last month, four new lines from the wheat breeding program at Agriculture and Agri-food Canada Swift Current were recommended for registration during the Prairie Grain Development Committee Meetings.

Wheat Breeder Dr. Richard Cuthbert says there's one high-yielding Canada Prairie Spring Red variety with a strong disease package that includes stripe rust resistance that shows a lot of potential for growers in Alberta.

The other three lines are Canada Western Red Spring two of which are not non-midge tolerant.

A new sports league is coming to Fort Saskatchewan, and they're looking for players.

Sean Danchuk and Vlad Papuga started Warriors Cornhole earlier this month, the first league of its kind in Fort Saskatchewan. 

"We started playing in Sturgeon County out of Morinville, and everyone craved another night, so we applied for that area and we were given Fort Saskatchewan."

Danchuk has been playing cornhole recreationally for years, with 2022 being his first season playing professionally.

Strathcona County is making it easier than ever to host neighbourhood gatherings. 

The county announced that applications for community grants opened up on Friday (Mar. 31) and will be accepted until May 1. 

"A safe, supported and connected community is the foundation of the Strathcona County Social Framework," the county said in a release. 

This year, six individuals will receive $5000 each through the G3 Grow Beyond Scholarship.

The scholarship is open to students (excluding Quebec) who are graduating high school this year and beginning post-secondary education in any field of study. 

G3 CEO Don Chapman says they're excited to help six more Canadian students achieve academic success through the G3 Grow Beyond Scholarship and contribute more ideas to benefit Canadian farms and their capacity to feed the world.

Results from new research projects funded the Alberta Agriculture Funding Consortium will benefit prairie producers.

The AFC consists of 18 agricultural organizations that leverage and coordinate funding to support sustainability, diversification, and long-term growth for agriculture and the food industry in Western Canada.

One of those groups is the Saskatchewan Wheat Development Commission.

For 2022-23 Sask Wheat has committed over $467,000 to four projects funded through AFC.

Some Albertans may see a rise in their power bills this month. 

About 800,000 Albertans on a regulated rate option (RRO) for their electricity are expected to pay a bit more than usual. 

This rise comes from the end of a program from the provincial government which put a cap on power costs. The program capped charges at 13.5 cents per kilowatt hour for the first three months of the year.

The federal government plans to introduce a grocery rebate that could impact up to 11 million Canadians. 

The rebate is a part of the 2023 federal budget that is being tabled by the federal Liberals and would be targeted toward low-to-middle-income citizens in an attempt to ease the stress of high food prices. 

The one-time payment depends on the situation of each eligible recipient, which includes $234 for single Canadians, $467 for couples who have two children, and $225 for seniors.